Why do fire incidents recur across country?

Electrical faults, unsafe buildings, inadequate inspections, weak enforcement of regulations and congested urban areas continue to raise number of fire incidents across the country. 

The recent devastating fire at the wooden TupTup Resto and Resort in Patowartek, Inani, Cox's Bazar, that claimed lives of at least 10, exposed serious fire safety concerns in commercial establishments, particularly in a major tourist destination where thousands of visitors stay at hotels and resorts.

Despite various obstacles, over the past three years, the Fire Service and Civil Defence saved property worth more than Tk7,000 crore. The value stood at Tk3,263 crore in 2025, Tk1,974 crore in 2024 and Tk1,808 crore in 2023.

Yet recurring fires, electrical faults and inadequate safety arrangements highlight the country's persistent failure to prevent disasters.

*    Dhaka Division recorded highest number of 7,179  fire incidents in 2025
*    Electrical faults remained leading cause of fire incidents over past three years

Dhaka Division recorded the highest number of fire incidents in 2025, with 7,179 incidents, followed by Rangpur, Rajshahi and Chattogram and Sylhet.

Densely populated settlements, narrow roads and traffic congestion frequently hamper firefighting operations in the capital.
On October 12, firefighters took nearly 37 hours to extinguish a fire at a market in Old Dhaka's Chawkbazar, where chemicals, narrow alleys, inadequate water supplies and poor ventilation complicated the operation.

Two days later, a fire broke out at Drug International's pharmaceutical factory in Tongi. Twenty firefighting units, assisted by the army and Border Guard Bangladesh, brought it under control in nearly four hours, although complete extinguishment took until around 10:30pm.

Shahjahan Sikder, an official of the Fire Service's media wing, said narrow roads, traffic congestion and inadequate safety arrangements often delayed firefighters' access to incident sites. He stressed the need for proper safety provisions and accessible emergency exits.

Electrical faults remained the leading cause of fire incidents over the past three years, triggering 9,392 incidents in 2025, or 34.71% of the total. The figures were 9,069 in 2024 and 9,813 in 2023.

Kazi Nazmuz Zaman, assistant director of the Fire Service's Dhaka Division, identified faulty electrical systems and substandard equipment as major causes, citing improper wiring, defective circuits and inadequate maintenance.

March recorded the highest number of fire incidents over the past three years, with 3,522 incidents in 2025, 3,421 in 2024 and 3,334 in 2023.

Talha bin Jasim, a station officer at Fire Service headquarters, said negligence and electrical faults increased fire risks during the dry season, urging households and businesses to maintain functional safety systems.

In 2025, the Fire Service conducted 192 mobile court operations, fined 179 establishments a total of Tk1.94 crore and filed cases against several others, according to officials.

However, the figures raise questions about whether inspections and penalties are sufficient to ensure compliance across buildings, factories, markets and commercial establishments.

An expert of the University of Dhaka's Department of Disaster Science and Climate Resilience said proper implementation of fire safety policies and building regulations could prevent 90�"95% of potential damage.

He stressed the importance of fire detection systems, extinguishers, proper electrical wiring and adequate firefighting equipment.

The central challenge for Bangladesh is no longer simply how quickly firefighters can extinguish a blaze, but why so many buildings remain vulnerable in the first place.

Despite billions of taka in property saved, recurring fires and preventable deaths continue to expose the gap between firefighting efforts and effective fire prevention.